Another 9 Surprise Hits of 2009 (UPDATED)

We tried to trim down our list to 9 but we realized that there are 9 others that should be in the list. So check it out!

ANOTHER 9 SURPRISE HITS OF 2009
(In no particular order)

“MELASON” LOVE TEAM FROM PBB – The funny tandem of Jason and Melai on Pinoy Big Brother Double UP fueled the show’s ratings to its season high. Because of “Melason”, the moniker of Melai and Jason tandem, Pinoy Big Brother became the first tv program in a long time from ABS-CBN to hit the no. 1 spot in the GMA-dominated AGB Mega Manila TV Ratings. And are you ready for another surprise? According to reports, Star Cinema is already cooking a romantic movie for “Melason” in 2010!

BRILLIANTE MENDOZA – It was a pleasant surprise when Brilliante Mendoza won the Best Director award in the prestigious 62nd Cannes International Film Festival in France for his film Kinatay (The Execution of P). The film was lambasted by foreign critics and yet Brilliante won Best Director. Very surprising indeed!

Cannes is the world’s most prestigious film festival and it’s dubbed as a prelude to the Oscars. The only other pinoy who made it to Cannes was the late Lino Brocka. Dante made it to Cannes for two years in a row! Last year, his film “Serbis” was also included for competition. But winning Best Director in Cannes earlier this year is such a great honor for the country.

DED NA SI LOLO – The Film Academy of the Philippines has chosen this indie film as the Philippine entry to the 2010 Oscars. It came as a surprise because film critics are expecting either the Cinemalaya Best Picture “Jay” or Brilliante Mendoza’s award-winning “Lola” as our bet for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2010 Academy Awards. They say its a weak choice because Ded Na Si Lolo hasn’t won any award yet compared with Jay and Lola. Nevertheless, it’s a hit for neophyte movie producer APT Entertainment for getting such recognition. It may be a long shot at the Oscars but the jury members of the Film Academy of the Philippines have seen something special about this film.

ANGEL LOCSIN – The Philippines celebrated the Best Actress nomination of Angel Locsin in the 2009 International Emmy Awards for her performance in the fantaserye “Lobo” (The Wolf). Making it to the semi-finals of the prestigious award-giving body is already an honor but making it as one of the finalists from all over the world in the Best Actress category is such an achievement!

CARLO J. CAPARAS – Pleasant or unpleasant surprise, hit pa rin! Carlo J. Caparas caused a stir when he was proclaimed as a National Artist this year. Some people think that the creator of Panday and other popular Filipino graphic novels do not deserve the award. But President Arroyo herself defended the choice saying that her administration “stand by the qualifications, qualities, track record and reputation of those named as National Artists.” Aside from Panday, his other works include Bakekang, Totoy Bato, Joaquin Bordado, Kamagong, Kamandag, Angela Markado, Tasya Fantasya, Gagambino, Ang Huling Lalaki ng Baluarte, Pieta and Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang. He could be the “Mars Ravelo” of our time kaya pagbigyan na natin!

EFREN PEÑAFLORINDA – Last November 22, 2009, he was named CNN Hero of the Year for 2009 besting 9 other shortlisted heroes from around the world. And why he’s a hero? He is the founder and head of the Dynamic Teen Company, which offers Filipino youth an alternative to street gangs through education, recreating school settings in unconventional locations such as cemeteries and trash dumps. His cariton classroom touched the hearts of many people and it’s definitely a surprise hit that the prestigious cable tv network discovered his noble endeavor.

ALING DIONISIA PACQUAIO – The mother of no less than boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao has entered showbiz this year. She’s funny without really trying and that alone made her a surprise hit! We saw her first movie “Ang Tanging Pamilya” and she really has a gift in comedy. Not to mention the endorsement deals that she landed, Aling Dionisia is definitely a star in her own right. Bunggang bungga!

COCO MARTIN – Due to insistent public demand, we are including Coco Martin in this list. For this year kasi, Coco made a breakthrough from indie films to mainstream. His role as Ramon in the highly-acclaimed teleserye “Tayong Dalawa” elevated this young actor from being an indie prince to being the most promising lead actor in the future. Remember our article last October tagging Coco as the “next big star“? We stand by our statement, we still believe Coco is the next big star!

Before we proceed, please be reminded that this list is not in any particular order, whatsoever, and please understand that it is about “SURPRISE HITS” of the year so huwag nang ipagpilitan sina Sarah Geronimo and Kim Chiu because they are already “hits” – matagal na – and all their achievements this year are expected of them. We are talking about things na “di sukat akalain” or “kagulat gulat.”

We have one slot left. Can’t make up my mind who or what will occupy the number 9 position. Maybe you can help me decide the remaining slot. Any suggestion?

UPDATE: Ok i made up my mind. The no. 9 and last slot in our second set of 9 SURPRISE HITS OF 2009 belongs to….

(drumroll)

none other than…

(drumroll)

GRETCHEN BARRETTO – Gretchen Barretto’s “Unexpected” album turned platinum last March 2009. O di ba kasorpre-sorpresa! Dahil Christmas naman, i will not further explain this one, hehehe.

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